Now Microsoft Watch's Joe Wilcox, an observer on all things Microsoft, has thrown in his support for such theories. Mr. Wilcox writes:

Was this a craftily timed Microsoft marketing leak?

I sure as hell think so. It's certainly what I would do if I worked at Microsoft on Windows evangelism. The timing is perfect, from a marketing perspective. The leaked build hit BitTorrent sometime on Saturday, right after Christmas when the Windows geeks had nothing better to do and bloggers and journalists had nothing better to write about. The leaked build is designated "7000," which strongly suggests that the code is the same as forthcoming Beta 1, or close to it.

Absolution

01-01-09, 01:20 PM

So what if it was?

No offense, but just linking news articles to sites many of us visit already without adding your own input or at least trying to start a discussion is rather pointless.

vert305

01-01-09, 01:22 PM

BooooooooooooooooooooooooooM in your face! .... are you going to let him talk to you like that? owned:

crainger

01-01-09, 03:11 PM

Knock it off guys.

I'm waiting for a 64bit one myself. :;):

Noriega

01-01-09, 03:30 PM

Hope 64Bit version of 7 will get most of developers attention.

crainger

01-01-09, 03:38 PM

Probably wont as most OEMs refuse to sell it. Dell wont let you have it even if you config a 4-8gb machine!

Redeemed

01-01-09, 05:27 PM

Probably wont as most OEMs refuse to sell it. Dell wont let you have it even if you config a 4-8gb machine!

Not that long ago we stocked a Dell that had 4GB of RAM and a C2Q proc, had the 64-bit version of Vista. So why would they not allow for the 64-bit version of Windows 7, once it is available?

JasonPC

01-01-09, 05:36 PM

I thought I had heard the next version of Windows after Vista would be 64-bit only? Whatever happened to that?

shilk

01-01-09, 05:53 PM

Probably wont as most OEMs refuse to sell it. Dell wont let you have it even if you config a 4-8gb machine!

That's just crazy and foolish on their part. :(

johnkeel105

01-01-09, 07:55 PM

I think the version to be 64-bit only was confirmed to be after Windows 7. Microsoft isn't going to limit their OS to 64-bit processors just yet. In an economy like we have now that would be suicide. Gotta remember that most people outside this forum have less then 4gb of Ram and run PC's that are 2-3 years old. Limiting people loses money, even though many people would like to see 32-bit OS bite the dust.

JasonPC

01-01-09, 07:59 PM

I wouldn't mind it to be standard. Seems like a transformation that needs to start happenening now as the real need for around 4 gigs is basically here with Vista and I don't think Windows 7 will reverse that need (I think just under 50% ram usage with just the OS loaded and maybe a few vital programs is not really acceptable with 2 gigs).

mullet

01-01-09, 08:26 PM

Probably wont as most OEMs refuse to sell it. Dell wont let you have it even if you config a 4-8gb machine!

There is your problem you said config & Dell in the same sentence.

Shamrock

01-01-09, 09:32 PM

So what if it was?

No offense, but just linking news articles to sites many of us visit already without adding your own input or at least trying to start a discussion is rather pointless.

How can I add my own input, when I didn't download it to begin with? And can you vouch for every member you consider "most" as visiting dailytech, daily?

Didn't think so.

Furthermore, if you don't LIKE me posting this, then don't read the thread.

I am posting news for people who DO NOT visit Dailytech.

Bman212121

01-01-09, 09:40 PM

I wouldn't say intentional, but more of a coincidence. If they were planning on giving it out to testers/writers before CES then it would likely be from that.

I can't think of a good way to put it, but Microsoft would likely know when their software is going to leak. The developers and the people who work with Windows 7 aren't going to be the ones handing it out. They probably have to make a decision of when it's polished enough to give to the next tier of people because they know someone is going to let it leak onto the net. So whether it was intentional or not, they probably knew it was going to happen.

Lyme

01-02-09, 01:22 AM

MS didn't leak it. Conjecture that even suggests it is flatly wrong. We know that MS if they want a significant number of beta testers (like vista) will offer a open beta and give instructions on how to report bugs/impressions.

Absolution

01-02-09, 02:03 PM

Like I said, I wasn't trying to offend anyone, I'll leave it at that.

But on topic, the article is full of FUD, when was the last time that something MS was releasing didn't get leaked? They hand out beta access like candy.

I'm glad it was posted on the DT blog; there is hardly any real investigative reporting. They may have interviewed me to give my 2c on the subject.

Every major build of windows has leaked since the dawn of time so it seems (I can't confirm that pre-xp, I don't even think I knew what a torrent file was when I was playing JediKnight II on Windows 98. . . ).

Beta 1, Beta 2, RC1, RTM of Vista (both x64 and x86) were leaked.
So far, seems like every major build of Windows 7 have also been leaked. Build 7000 is just a Beta 1 build. Expect the next leaks to go Beta 2, RC1, RTM. Microsoft has these builds fairly available to anyone with MSDN/MS Beta access.

Oh, also Windows Server 2008 was also leaked.

I really think people are looking at this too hard, this isn't Showtime releasing a crappy rip of Dexter the season premier two weeks before it airs to generate excitement. Its just people leaking Windows because they can.

And there will also be x86/x64 versions (why? I really wish I knew).

thor1182

01-02-09, 02:46 PM

I am kinda confused about the whole issue, as to why people are making it an issue, both on DT's part and everyone else.

So what if they did, its not like its going to hurt them if they did, and if they didn't it would be buisness as normal.

thor1182

01-02-09, 03:03 PM

however with all these people saying that the leak seems to be safe as far as extra crap in it... tempting to pull down the iso and fire up a virtual machine for it

mailman2

01-02-09, 06:55 PM

The reaon MS wants to stop this now, is that word will get out Windows 7 is light years better than Vista and everyone will stop buying Vista. With less than a year to go is it worth spending the cash on Vista if you haven't already? hell no.

I've been using W7 since 6801, this OS is superior to Vista in every way. Once this goes RTM and ships I'm sure MS will do everything possible to get every copy of Vista off store shelves and the PR machine will fire up the "YOU NEED THIS, ITS BETTER THAN THE LAST ONE!" machine. They will be in high gear trying to rid the world of Vista. They just dont want this mentality to hit too soon and stop sales of Vista right now.

thor1182

01-02-09, 08:51 PM

ghosted one of my vista boxes and installing w7 on it right now.Also firing up a w7 virtual machine. fun times

Shamrock

01-02-09, 09:14 PM

Doesn't matter to me anyways, I just bought OpenSuSE for a whopping $7.20 including shipping.

But, I will probly buy W7 after the first SP.

mailman2

01-02-09, 09:42 PM

Doesn't matter to me anyways, I just bought OpenSuSE for a whopping $7.20 including shipping.

But, I will probly buy W7 after the first SP.

W7 doesnt need a SP. Its got 2 SPs of Vistas' under it's belt.

DRen72

01-03-09, 10:37 AM

I've been using W7 since 6801, this OS is superior to Vista in every way.Maybe so, but you still can't use regular Vista drivers for video cards, right?

XDanger

01-03-09, 01:18 PM

I realize this isn't a W7 wish list thread but I hope there's a 100% working software compatibility mode.

Maybe a full windows 98se virtual install built in.

mailman2

01-03-09, 03:07 PM

Maybe so, but you still can't use regular Vista drivers for video cards, right?

Yup, all the vista drivers work in Windows 7. ;) Most don't know the difference since the internal number is 6.1 and Vista is 6. They install without making any fuss.